Basketball

Redshirt freshman guard Brandone Francis-Ramirez has decided to leave the Florida Gators and will transfer from the basketball program this offseason, the school announced Wednesday.

Francis-Ramirez, who due to academic issues was forced to miss his entire true freshman season, struggled in his first season of action. He averaged 2.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per game while shooting 17.2 percent from the field, 11.8 percent from beyond the arc and 45.5 percent at the free throw line.

“I thought about it long and hard and I decided that it was best for me to transfer from UF. I’ll sincerely miss this school,” Francis-Ramirez began in a string of tweets. “School is fine. I’m taking a summer class here, continuing to train all summer and take my time to properly choose the best fit for my style. I appreciate and love coach white for supporting my decision and assisting me and my family with the process of dining my next team.”

Francis-Ramirez joins redshirt junior guard/forward DeVon Walker, who graduated this spring, as departures from the program. Walker will be eligible to play immediately at his next stop, while Francis-Ramirez will be forced to sit a year due to NCAA rules.

With Francis-Ramirez leaving, the Gators now have two open scholarships to accept potential transfers ahead of the 2016-17 season. That number will go down to one should redshirt senior F Alex Murphy receive a sixth year of eligibility after missing the entire past season to a foot injury.

Let’s take a look at how Florida basketball’s roster stacks up at this time (classes represent the player’s designation for 2016-17, players who will see major minutes listed).

Pending
Alex Murphy, redshirt senior — 6’8″ 225 lbs.– Murphy has applied for a medical redshirt. If it is not applied or he chooses to return to the team as a walk-on, Florida would have an additional scholarship to fill.

ABOUT US

OnlyGators.com (a/k/a ONLY GATORS Get Out Alive, Only Gators, OGGOA, OG) is an independent website owned by Only Gators, LLC. It is not affiliated in any way with the University of Florida, University Athletic Association or Florida Gators.